FDA Panel to Discuss Anti-Anemia Drugs

As reported in the WSJ online, the FDA has scheduled a joint meeting of its Cardiovascular and Renal Drugs Advisory Committee and the Drug Safety and Risk Management Advisory Committee for September 11th “to discuss ‘updated information on the risks and benefits’ of Aranesp, Epogen and Procrit when used in the treatment of anemia in patients with kidney failure.”  The Wall Street Journal reports:

“The FDA is concerned the drugs could promote tumor progression in some patients as well as cut down on overall survival. Most of the studies showing such problems involve the drugs being used at higher-than-recommended doses.”

– SBS